Excavating machine



June 24, 1930. w. K. ILIGGETT v 1,765,682 I EXCAVATING MACHINE FiledJune 24, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Witne9ses lnue nTor' June 24, 1930. w. K.LlGGETT 1,765,682

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 now/057 A. 06/7:

June 24, 1930. w |GGETT I 1,765,682

EXCAVATI NG MACHINE Filed. June 24, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE WILLIAM K. LIGGETT, OF COLUMBUS,OHIO, AS SIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTUR- v IIl'G COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO EXCAVATING MAOHIN E Application filed June24,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inexcavating machines, and especially to machines adapted to take materialfrom natural deposits, or from storage piles, and to load it intoconvenient receptacles for transportaion.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improved means todislodge com pacted material and to disintegrate it into fragments ofsuitable size for convenient handling by the loading devices.

A further object isto provide means to gather and carry away thedislodged and disrupted material in front of the machine and therebyclear a path for the supporting and propelling devices- These objectsare attained by providing -means, preferably, and as shown, mounted upona tractor, which will dig into and loosen the compacted material in itsnatural or stored state, so that it can be readily picked-up byconveying devices, combined with and disposed-in operative relation tothe digging instrumentalities. By the joint action of these mechanisms,combined as specified, the work of handling material of t e class forwhich it is designed is carried on efficiently and expeditiously.

The means whereby I have attained these, and other objects which will behereinafter pointed out, are fully set forthin the followingspecification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFig. 1 is a side elevation ofan excavating machine equipped with thedevices of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation ,of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine'illust'rated inFig. 1, showing particularly the material disrupting and gatheringdevices.

Fig. 4 is a" sectional view taken substantially on the line IVIV of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VV of Fig.1-.

' Fig. 6v is a detail of the driving mechanism for the disruptindevices,

Fig. 7 is a view in si e elevation showing 1924. Serial No. 722,108.

the excavating mechanism collapsed for transportation.

Fig. 8 is a detail of rack and gear mechanism for collapsing and raisingthe excavating mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail, partly in section, of the scraper parts whichco-operate with the exconstruction, in a manner well understood in theart. At the lower end of conveyor frame 1 are hearings in a suitablepart of the machine frame, in which a stationary foot shaft 5 is rigidlysupported, and upon this foot shaft is mounted freely rotatable footwheels 6 which engage the chains 3 to hold the buckets 4 in properrelation to their work of gathering material. Referring to Figures 3 and4, it will be noted that the ends of the stationary shaft 5 are reducedto form shoulders, and threaded extensions to receive nuts for rigidlyconnecting the shaft 5 to a scoop 28 as well as to the forward ends offorwardly diverging braces 30 attached to the conveyor frame 1.

The head shaft 2 is connected with any suitable power devices on themachine through the endless chain 8, conventionally illustratvenientpoint to receive material discharged from the buckets 4, and a suitablespout 10, the design of'which ma be varied, and

j which is angularly adjustab e, affords means to direct the flow ofmaterial from the hopper 9 into a suitably positioned receptacle fortransportation or other point of deli very.

Pivotally attached to the head shaft 2 and to the foot shaft 5,respectively, are the link members 11 and 12, the said members 11 and 12being pivotally attached at their opposite ends to the main supportingframe 13 of the machine. These arms 11 and 12form a tilting elevatorsupport for supporting the elevator in either its inclined operativeposition, as shown in full lines Fig. 1, or in its substantiallyhorizontal traveling position, as shown in Fig. 7. a The elevator frameis moved from one position to anotherby means of a rack bar 14 connectedwith the elevator frame and engaged by a suitable pinion 14"attached tothe shaft 15. Said shaft 15 is controlled, as here shown, by the handwheel 16 through a suitable train of gearing, as shown in Fig. 8, andserves to' adjust the elevator from one angular position to anotherrelative to its support.

' Hand wheel 16 is coupled to the shaft 16' of the gear train by adouble pawl and ratchet wheeldevice 16" (see Fig. 8) so that by whichthe machine is supported and proit is effective to actuate the rack 14in both directions and raise or collapse the elevating mechanism.. .Tothe main frame 13 is attached, in any suitable manner, the axles 17 and18 upon which are mounted suitable sprocket wheels, not shown in thedrawings, which engage the tractor chains 19 and 20 pelled .over theground. The tractor chains 19 and 20 are actuated in anypreferred mannerfrom suitable power devices mounted upon the main frame, and theiractuation is controlled by suitable devices, such as the hand levers 21and 22 and the pull rods 23 and 24 which are convenient to the hand ofthe operator, who preferably rides upon a platform 25 at one side of themachine;

Tractor devices similar .to those above illustrated are disclosed andclaimed in my copending application, Ser. No. 709,253, but it is to beunderstood that any suitable mechanism may be substituted for that hereshown without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Rotatably mounted on extensions 29 of the foot shaft5 are diggingdevices, each of which consists of a wide, pulle -like wheel 31, to themm of which is secure a plurality of spines or spikes 32 of suchproportion that when the digging devices revolve, the outer ends ofthese s mes will describe circles of substantially t 0 same radius ofthese described by the .g'atherin li s of the elei vator buckets 4,sothat t e oosening and elevating mechanism will 0 erate oversubstantially .the same area. hese wheels 31 are of such axial 1e h, andthe spines 32 are so distributed bot axially and circumferentially upontheir-"surfaces, that when said wheels revolve the s inea will en a ematerial u n the un in front. 0 the tractor chains 19 an 20 to disruptthe mawheels and fall into such posltion that the elevating mechanismwill readily engage and carry it to the point of delivery. Obviously,any other desired type of digging and gathering means can be employedfor loosening the material and feeding the same toward the elevatorbuckets. Connected rigidly to each of the digging wheels 31 are sprocketwheels 33 connected by suitable endless chains 34 with sprocket wheels35 carried by the supplemental shaft 36. The supplemental shaft 36 isjournaled in suitable bearings 37 onthe elevator frame 1, and to thesupplemental shaft is fixed two sprocket wheels 38 adapted to engage andbe driven by a strand of the elevator chains preferably the upper orcarrying strand 0 the elevator chains 3. By the arrangement .of partsabove described, the wheels 31 are driven by the elevator chains 3,-and. the parts are so proportioned and the driving connections are suchthat the wheels 31 revolve in the same direction as the chain engagingfoot wheels 6, but ata materially reduced speed. Should the spines 32 onthe wheels 31 encounter an obstruction which would stall and preventtheir rotation, the elevator chain 3, which is. sufficiently slack forthis purpose, will slip over the teeth .of'

the sprocket wheels 38, release the digger drive, and thereby preventundue strain upon the driving devices of the diggers and 1 theirsupp0rts.

. During theoperation of the machine, as the truck movestowards thematerial which is to be gathered up, the elevator buckets 4 engage,disrupt, and dislodge. the material excavating a path thereon of thewidth 0 said buckets, gathering the dislodged material and carrying itto the hopper 9. At

the same time the spines 32 upon the rotors on age, disrupt and dislodgematerial at the si es of the elevator, and slightly in front of thetractor chains 19 and 20, and by their forward and upward. movementpropel such dislodged material forwardly, and pile ity in front of themachine, so' that it tends to slide into the path of the elevatorbuckets and be taken up thereby.

Immediately in the rear of the foot of the elevator frame is an inclinedsteel plate stiffened alon its lower edge by a suit- 26 able angle bar 2and adapted to contact with the ground when the elevator is in itsinclined or operative position. The plate 26 projects at both sidesofthe machine beyond the outer plates of the tractor chains l9 and 20, andat its ends are the flanges or wings 28 which are attached to the outerend of the shaft extensions 29, Brace bars 30 attached to the ends ofthe shaft extensions 29 project rearwardly to the elevator frame 7 whichsaid tractor chains may travel. As

the loose material accumulates in front of the scraper 26 it is engagedby the elevator buckets 4, or the spines 32, or both, and

moved forwardly to be gathered and elevated in the manner abovedescribed, the flanges or wings 28 serving to confine the loose materialthus collected from escape latv erally.

It will be understood that the constructions herein disclosed may bevaried within the range of mechanical skill and by the adoption ofexpedients which are the equivalent of those set forth, and still bewithin the range of my invention.

'I claim 1. In an excavating machine, the combination with a vehicle, ofan elevator mounted thereon and comprising an endless belt, and a seriesof elevator elements attached thereto and adapted to gather materialfrom the ground in front of said vehicle, means to dislodge materialadjacent said elevator, and means operatively connected to said belt foractuating said dislodging means at a different speed of movement fromthat of said elevator and being releasable under undue strain imposedupon said dislodging means. I

2. In an excavating machine, the combination with a vehicle, of anelevator mounted thereon and comprising an endless belt, and a series ofelevator elements attached thereto and adapted to gather material fromthe ground in front of said vehicle, means for actuating said endlessbelt, dislodging' thereto and adapted to gather material from the groundin front of said truck, means to disrupt and dislodge material adjacentthe elevator and operating at a different speed from that of saidelevator, and means actuated by the elevator chain to actuate thedisrupting and dislodging means as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck,of an elevator comprising an endless chain and a series of elevatorbuckets attached thereto, a foot shaft about which said chain andbuckets turn to gather material from the ground in front of said truck,a rotary digger positioned adjacent the elevator, and means independentof said foot shaft and actuated by said elevator chain to actuate saiddigger as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck,of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an elongated frame, an endlesschai'n mounted upon said frame and a series of elevator buckets attachedto said chain, a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets'turn' togather material from the ground in front of said truck, a rotary diggerpositioned adjacent'said elevator, a supplemental shaft mounted upon theelevator frame, a sprocket wheel mounted upon said supplemental shaftengaging and actuated by said elevator chain, and means actuated by saidsupplemental shaft to actuate said digger as and for the purpose setforth.

6. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck,of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an elongated frame, an endlesschain mounted upon the frame and a series of elevator buckets attachedto said chain and adapted to gather material from the ground in front ofsaid truck, a rotary digger adjacent said elevator, a supplemental shaftmounted upon said elevator frame, a sprocket wheel mounted upon saidsupplemental shaft engaging and actuated by said elevator chain, asecond'sprocket wheel attached to said supplemental shaft, a sprocketwheel attached to said digger, and an endless chain connecting saidsecond sprocket wheel with said digger sprocket wheel as and for thepurpose set forth.

7. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck,of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an elongated frame, an endlesschain mounted upon the. frame, and aseries of elevator buckets attachedto said chain, a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets turn'togather material from the ground in front of the truck, means to disruptand dislodge material adjacent the elevator, a supplemental shaftmounted upon the elevator frame, 'a sprocket wheel mounted upon thesupplemental shaft and engaging and actuated by the elevator chain, andmeans actuated by the supplemental shaft to actuate the disrupting anddislodging means as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an excavating machine, the combinaw rotata le' independentlythereof,

chain mounted on said frame, means for.

vator mounted thereon comprising an endless chain and series of bucketsattachedthereto,

a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets turn to ather materialfrom the ground in front of said truck, a substantiall spiral gatheringdigger on said foot sha t and rotatable independently thereof, and meansto cause said digger to "revolve at a different speed from that of saidelevator, as and for the purpose set forth.

,9. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck,of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an endless chain and a seriesof elevator buckets attached thereto, a foot shaft about which saidchain and buckets turn to gather material from the ground in front ofsaid truck, a dig er journaled upon said foot shaft and radiallyprojecting spirally arranged spines attached to. said digger adapted,when the digger revolves to describe a circular path of substantiallythe same radius as that described by the elevator buckets, and a meansactuated by said elevator chain to cause rotary movement of said diggerrelative to said foot shaft. v

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe adapted to be moved toward the material which is to be loaded, anelevating bucket driving said bucket chain, a foot shaft at the lowerend of said chain, an idler pulley carried by said frame forholding saidchain 7 to its work, rotary material dislodging means on said shaft, anddriving means'for sald dislodging means actuated by said bucket chainmoving at a different speed from that of saidbucket chain.

11. In a machine of the class described,

7 the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be moved toward thematerial which is to be loaded, an elevating bucketchain on saidwframe,means for driving said bucket chain, a foot shaft for the lower end ofsaid bucket chain, means carried by said shaft for-holding said bucketchain toits work, rotary, material dislod 'ng means mounted idly on saidshaft on e1ther side of ,said bucket chain, means operatively connectedto said bucket chain for actuating said dislodging means at a' differentspeed of movement from that of said bucket chain,- and means carried bysaid shaft on either side of said dislodging means to confine the.material.

12. I-n asmachine of the class described, the combination of asupporting frame adapted to .be moved toward the material which is to beloaded, an elevating bucket chain on said frame, means for driving saidbiicket chaiina foot shaft for the, lower end of said bucket chain,rotary material dislodging means. mounted idly on said shaft actuatingsaid tiltin elevator frame to di erent positions on said "portions ofthe rim.

its Work, rotary material dislodging means mounted idly on said shaft,sprocket wheels carried by said 1dly mounted dislodging .means, drivingchains for said sprocket wheels, and a driving sprocket for said chainengaging a run of said bucket chain and releasable therefrom under unduestrains. v

14:. In a machine of the class described, the

vator frame, link members pivotally connected to opposite ends of saidelevator frame and to said support, frame tilting means connected tosaid elevator frame between said link members, and means for means tomove said support.

15. In a mac the combination of a support, an elevator frame, a headshaft for said frame, a foot shaft for said frame, a link memberpivotally connecting said head shaft with said support, alink memberpivotally connecting said foot shaft with said support, frame tiltingmeans carried by said elevator frame between said link members, andmeans carried by said support for actuating said tilting means andmoving said elevator frame to different positionsrelative to saidsupport.

16. A material dislodging wheel formachines of the class describedhaving a mutilated rim with dislodging projections on either side of themutilating openings. .1

17. A material dislodging wheel for machines of the class describedhaving a rim alternately cut away on'opposite si es with projections onthe alternatmgunmutilated l8. A material machines of the classdescribed, comprising an annular rim having an irregular edge, and aseries of' dislodging -pro ections arranged normal to said rim.

ine of the class described, I

' combination of a supporting frame, an eledislodging member for 19. Amaterial dislodging wheel for ma- J chines of the class described,comprising a rim provided with openings, and a series 'of dislodgingprojections arra ed in transverse spaced relation 11 on sai rim.

20. In a machine 0 a supporting frame, an elevator frame, link membersplvotally connected to 0p osite ehds of said elevator frame and to sasupthe class described,

. porting frame, and rack and pinion means arranged between said linkmembers for adjusting the angular relation between said elevator frameand said supporting frame.

21. In a machine of theolass described, a supporting frame, an elevatorframe, a head shaft for said elevator frame, a foot shaft for saidelevator frame, a link member pivotally connecting said head shaft withsaid support, a link member pivotally connecting said foot shaft withsaid support, and rack and pinion means arranged between said linkmembers for var ing the angular relation of said elevator irame withrespect to said supporting frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y WILLIAM K. LIGGETT.

